2026 Volume 14 Issue 2 Pages 37-58
Amidst the shift to "New Globalization", China's State-level New Areas serve as critical instruments for spatial governance. This study utilizes Scale Reconfiguration Theory to systematically review the institutional evolution of 19 SNAs. Findings identify a four-phase trajectory, evolving from a rigid top-down model to a sophisticated multi-level interaction framework. The governance logic exhibits a "centralized-decentralized" paradox, where the state rescales authority to city-regions to bypass provincial intermediaries while retaining strategic control. Spatially, SNAs have transitioned from industrial growth poles to polycentric eco-cities integrating production, living, and ecological spaces. To navigate global uncertainty, the study proposes a normative framework focusing on institutional optimization, regional strategic recalibration, digital transformation, and enhanced urban-spatial connectivity. This research contributes by refining State Rescaling Theory within a non-Western context, demonstrating how the Global South reorganizes power and space to achieve resilient and sustainable regional development.
